Inside The Mysterious Roman Temple In The City Of London

Originally a hit for our predecessor Secret Londinium, the enigmatic Temple of Mithras is free to visit.

If you’re Roman around for something to do this week, we’ll Nero down your options.

Deep beneath the headquarters of media giant Bloomberg lies the Mithraeum, a painstaking restoration of an ancient Roman temple, once a site of worship by a cult dedicated to the god Mithras.

Photo: allybyers

The temple was founded back in 300 AD, when the cryptic organisation was popular with ‘merchants, soldiers and imperial administrators.’ Sunken into the earth, the temple was designed to resemble the cave where Mithras once slayed a bull in an iconic scene that would have once been depicted prominently inside.

Rediscovered in the 1950s, this ultra-modern exhibit was opened to the public in November 2017.

Pay a visit and you’ll also find ancient artefacts, projections, and interactive exhibits, revealing what archeologists have discovered about the historic site.

Photo: @oto_jest_viola

Joining the Mithraic cult once required ascending through seven different levels of initiation, and full members described themselves as ‘united by the handshake.’ Fortunately, no rites, rituals or secret signs are required to attend in 2018, and entry is free, with na’ry an animal sacrifice demanded. Booking ahead online is advised, however.

Location: visit London Mithraeum Bloomberg SPACE at 12 Walbrook, City of London, EC4N 8AA. Nearest station: Bank.Opening hours: closed Monday, 10am-6pm Tuesday-Saturday, 12pm-5pm on Sunday.Entry: Free, but the venue has a limited capacity and often hosts school trips and tour groups, so book in advance to guarantee admission.More information:on their website.

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Although Alex spent most of his life in Somerset and Durham, London is (almost) in his name, so he relocated to Clapham and fell in love with it. However, this has put him dangerously close to Infernos... You'll find him eating all of London's street food, lost in a bookshop, or shouting at his beloved ice hockey team, the Minnesota Wild.